Valve.



. L. c. STEELE.

VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-1,1913.

1,1383%. Patented May 11, 1915.

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FIG. 4

WITNESSES INVENTOR m: NORRIS PE TERS ca, F'HOTC-LITHO WASHINGTON. D, c.

UNITE PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE C. STEELE, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE C. STEELE, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to valves for fluids,

and particularly to valves for controlling.

the passage of fluids through conduits, such as water conduits.

The object of the invention is to provide a perfectly balanced valve which requires no ground valve seats or other valve parts, which is easily operated irrespective of the pressure of the fluid supply, and which is simple, inexpensive and not liable to get out of order.

The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section through a valve embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof on the line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, and illustrating a modification; and Fig. 4 is a cross section thereof on the line H, Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the valve shown comprises a casing 1, and is connected up in a conduit 2 so as to control the supply of fluid, such as gas, water or other fluid, therethrough. The casing may be of any suitable construction, and as shown comprises a central body portion 2 and two end portions 3 provided with peripheral flanges 4 through which are passed the securing bolts 0r rivets 5.

Within the casing is a cross or transverse wall 6, shown as a rigid metal plate having its peripheral portions clamped between the flanges of the casing. Said plate is provided with a large number of small perforations or apertures 7, which preferably areclosely spaced from each other, and each of which is of comparatively small size. The total cross sectional area of the ports or perforations 7 will be equal to or greater than the cross sectional area of the conduit 2, so that when all of said ports are open the valve will allow the passage therethrough of the maximum supply of fluid.

The flow of fluid through the ports in the Specification of Letters Patent.

cross wall is controlled by a curtain or valve member 8, formed of any suitable material which is impervious to the particular fluid and which is flexible so that it can be bent or rolled. Suitable materials for this purpose are thin sheets of leather, heavy canvas, specially treated textile fabrics, or a thin pliable metal sheet, which may be any suitable metal, such as thin brass, iron, steel, lead or the-like. In the form shown in the drawings the curtain 8 is made of thin sheet brass, which is quite flexible and strong. The curtain 8, along one edge, is rigidly attached to a part of or to a part fixed to the valve casing. As shown, it is riveted or otherwise firmly secured directly to cross wall 6, asshown at 9. Said curtain is long enough and wide enough to completely cover all of the perforations or ports 7 in the cross wall 6, which ports do not extend clear to the inner wall of the valve casing. The other end edge of the curtain is rigidly secured in any suitable manner, as by a row of rivets 11, to the cylindrical surface of a roller 10.

Roller 10 rolls back and forth along the cross wall 6 and is held down thereon by any suitable means. In the form shown in Fig. 1 roller 10 has secured to its cylindrical surface the ends of two bands or straps 12, preferably formed of material similar to that of which the curtain 8 is formed,'and

the opposite ends of which are rigidly secured, as by riveting, to the cross wall 6 at points closely adjacent to the periphery thereof, as at 18. The curtain 8 and the bands 12 are wound on the roller in opposite directions, and the arrangement is such that the roller 10 can roll back and forth over the surface of the cross wall 6, but cannot be raised or lifted therefrom. As it rolls in one direction, that is, to the right in Fig. 1, the curtain 8 is distributed or spread out over the surface of the cross wall 6, covering the ports or perforations 7 therein, whilethe bands or straps 12 wind up on the roller. When the roller rolls in the opposite direction, that is to the left in Fig. 1, the curtain 8 winds up upon the roller and is gradually lifted 0r separated from the cross wall 6, thereby uncovering the ports or apertures therethrough.

The amount of fluid flowing through the Patented May 11, 1915.

Application filed November 1, 1913. Serial No. 798,745.

'cross wall 6, so that the pressure automatically holds the valve closed. By moving the roller toward its other extreme position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the ports or perforations are progressively opened as the curtain is lifted away from the cross wall.

' Although the pressure of the fluid supply may be high, the force necessary to move the roller is very low and need only be suflicient to pull the curtain away from a few of the small ports or perforations at one time. Consequently, the flow of fluid through a large conduit, such as a water supply conduit, can be readily regulated without great exertion.

Any suitable means may be provided for traversing the roller upon the cross wall. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 this means comprises a shaft 15 journaled in the side walls of the casing and provided with suitable packings. Said shaft, within the casing, has rigidly secured thereto two lever arms 16, the ends of which are slotted to form yokes 17 embracing pins or trunnions 18 on the ends of the roller 10. Shaft .15, outside of the casing, is provided with a suitable operating handle 19. By oscillating the operating handle 19, roller 10 is moved back and forth over the cross wall 6 to open and close the ports 7 therein.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a modified form of the invention in which the operating mechanism for the roller 10 consists of a bar or rod 20 slidable endwise in a packing 21 in the casing wall. The inner end of said bar is provided with a yoke 22, the arms of which are provided with eyes 23 in which are journaled the pins or projections 18 on the ends of the roller 10. Bar or rod 20 may be moved endwise by applying the hand directly thereto, or may be connected to one arm of a suitable bell crank lever 24, or other device, for operation thereby. Figs. 3 and 4 also illustrate a modified arrangement for holding the roller down on the cross wall 6. As shown the trunnions 18 lie under guide bars 40 attached to the side walls of the casing. The straps or hands 12 of Fig. 1 are omitted and the roller is provided at its ends with gear members 41 which roll along racks 42.

There is no tendency of the fluid passing through the valve to move the roller in either direction. This is due tothe fact that all of the curtain 8 which is not active, that is, which is not in contact with th'ecross wall 6, is wound up on the roller. The fluid pressure consequently acts only upon one surface of the inactive portion of the curtain. This surface is practically the cylindrical surface of the roller itself and, since the fluid supply acts equally upon the entire cylindrical surface of the roller the tendency to move the roller in one direction is exactly counterbalanced by the tendency to move it in the opposite direction. This form of valve will consequently remain in whatever position it is placed, and no special locking mechanism is necessary.

The valve described is of simple construction, comprises but few parts, and is not liable to get out of order. It may be easily operated, and the force necessary for moving the valve is entirely independent of the total fluid pressure. The valvemay be cheaply constructed and is very efficient in operation.

l/Vhat I claim is: v

1. A fluid valve, comprising acasing provided with a cross wall having a plurality of perforations therethrough, a flexible curtain normally covering said perforations and having one edgecflxed relatively to the easing, a roller within said casing and having one edge of said curtain secured thereto, means for winding said curtain upon said roller to uncover said perforations and means for preventing other than rolling movement of said roller.

2. A fluid valve, comprising a casing provided with a cross wall having a plurality of perforations therethrough, a flexible curtain normally covering said perforations, a. roller within said casing and having one edge of said curtain secured thereto, means connected to said roller for winding said curtain thereupon to uncover said perforations, and means for preventing other than rolling movement of said roller.

3. A fluid valve, comprising a casing provided with a cross wall having a plurality of perforations therethrouglna flexible curtain normally covering said perforations, a roller within said casing and having one edge of said curtain secured thereto, means operable from the outside of the casing for rolling said roller back and forth over said wall, and guiding means for said roller.

4. A fluid valve, comprising a casing having a cross wall provided with a plurality of perforations therethrough, a flexible curtain normally covering the perforations in said wall and having one edge thereof secured to a fixed portion of the casing, a roller in said casing having the other edge of said curtain secured thereto, and a flexible b-and having one end thereof secured to said roller and the other end connected to a fixed portion of said casing, said curtain and band being adapted to wind upon said roller in opposite directions. I

5. A flui'l valve, comprising a casing having a cross wall therein provided with a plurality of perforations therethrough, a

flexible curtain normally covering the per- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set forations in said well, a roller in said casing my hand. having one edge of said curtain secured LAWRENCE C. STEELE. thereto, guiding means for said roller and Witnesses:

5 means for moving said roller back and forth ELBERT L. HYDE,

along said Wall. WILLIAM B. WHARTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. 

